Filling machine for comminuted materials



Jan. 3, 1967 5, -ry ET AL 3,295,566

FILLING MACHINE FOR COMMINUTED MATERIALS Filed D80. 14, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS George S. Maniufly and Robert H. Chuffee ORNEY Jan. 3, 1967 G. s. MANIATTY ET 3,295,566

FILLING MACHINE FOR COMMINUTED MATERIALS Filed Dec. 14, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS George S. Moniutty and Robert H. Choffee ORNEY Jan. 3, 1967 G. s. MANIATTY ET 3,295,556

FILLING MACHINE FOR COMMINUTED MATERIALS Filed Dec. 14, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 6

INVENTORS George S. Monicmy 0nd Roberi H. Choffee @"QZJ United States Patent 3,295,566 FILLING MACHINE FOR COMMINUTED MATERIALS George S. Maniatty, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Robert H.

Chaffee, Westfield, N.J., assignors to Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 418,187 8 Claims. (Cl. 141-71) This invention relates to apparatus for placement of a predetermined quantity of a comminuted material in a container and more particularly to such apparatus adapted to fill a predetermined weight of a very finely powdered substance, such as cleaners, in a dispensing container while maintaining sufiicient outage to permit the substance to be dispensed therefrom. As used herein, container and can are synonymous and should be broadly interpreted as referring to receptacles of any construction which are adapted to receive and contain a pulverulent material.

Prior art machines of the type to which this invention is directed are provided with an inlet and an outlet starwheel; a conveyor which carries empty cans to the inlet starwheel and full cans away from the outlet starwheel; a rotatable drum or tub including a product containing chamber in the upper portion thereof, the bottom surface or filler plate of which carries a multiplicity of depending measuring (or filling) tubes equally spaced about its periphery; means to remove the empty cans from the inlet starwheel and elevate them so as to telescope over the measuring tubes as the cans are moved about the machine at the same speed as the measuring tubes; an adjustable rail including a horizontal section adapted to vertically support the cans at a filling elevation while the measuring tubes are filled with the product being packaged and a downwardly inclined section designed to lower the cans to the discharge starwheel to thereby permit the product contained in the measuring tubes to flow into the cans; and a stationary enclosure over the product containing chamber and including a product inlet, depending product deflecting bafiles and a cutolf bafile which strikes off the product in the chamber even with the top of the measuring tube and which prevents product from entering the measuring tubes during the portions of the machine cycle in which the cans telescoped thereover are being lowered on the downwardly inclined section of the support rail and until a subsequent can is telescoped thereover and brought to the filling elevation. It will be recognized that, if desired, this type of equipment will permit the filling of product in a container while maintaining a predetermined amount of outage (the space which is intermediate the level of product and the top of the container).

Such prior art machines have been employed for some time in filling finely divided cleanser products in the type of container traditionally used in packaging such an item, i.e., a convolutely wound fiberboard tube sealed by means of a metallic closure crimped along its periphery to each end of the tube. Due to the free-flowing nature of cleansers, substantially similar in some respects to those of liquids, the distal ends of the measuring tubes are pressed against the interior surface of the bottom closure to prevent outflow of product during the filling operation described above in order to attain some emblance of consistency in the volumetric measurement of the product in the measuring tubes. This arrangement is feasible in connection with the fiberboard package since the interior surface of the bottom closure is smooth and since the fabrication of the closure and its attachment to the wound tube can be controlled sufficiently to assure consistency in the elevation of the sealing surface during the filling operation. However, it

Patented Jan. 3, 1967 was found that the attempted use of the arrangement in filling blown plastic cans with cleanser was not successful because the apparatus was sensitive to the imperfections generally found on the bottom interior surface of such containers. The imperfections vary from can to can, resulting in a loss of control in maintaining consistent fill weights due to uncontrolled and irregular outflow of product from the bottom of the measuring tube during the filling operation.

Another shortcoming of the prior art apparatus is that the construction and mode of measurement is such as to restrict to a considerable extent the size and configuration of cans which can be filled therewith. For example,

if a large container provided with a small mouth opening is to be filled, the measuring tube must necessarily be of narrow diameter and very long in order to measure the correct amount of product in the container. Since the distance between the inlet or outlet positions of the equipment and the filler plate is fixed, if the combined length of the container and the measuring tube exceed that distance, the container cannot be filled on the machine. Even if the distance requirements did not prevent operation, the small cross sectional area of the measuring tube and its length would substantially increase the length of filling time required as contrasted with shorter tubes of greater diameter. Consequently, the machine would have to be operated at a reduced speed.

A further shortcoming of sue-h prior art machines is that its speed capability is limited by the fact that the entire length of the can must be telescoped on and off the measuring tube during the cycle. If the container is long, this necessitates very abrupt changes in the elevation of the container if the portion of the cycle devoted to filling of the measuring tubes is maintained constant. Consequently, the speed of the machine would have to be reduced in order to avoid can handling problems at its inlet and outlet. The problems at the outlet would especially be compounded since it is during the period of descent of the container that the product is transferred to the container. If the descent is too rapid, it has been found that the product will frequently bridge for an instant within the measuring tube and then fall out after the container has been moved out of alignment therewith, thereby incompletely filling the container and creating a cleanup problem.

A still further shortcoming associated with the prior art machines is that of container dusting, i.e., fine particles of the product adhering to the exterior surface of the container. This is an undesirable appearance defect in a container for consumer goods since it makes the package look dirty and undesirable, and thus adversely affects the sale of the product. In addition, dusting of an abrasive-containing substance on the container has been found to scratch the surface thereof as the containers rub against one another during shipment. This dusting problem results from the splashing of particles during the transfer of the product from the measuring tube to the container and from late release of such particles from the interior wall of the measuring tubes as the container is being removed from thereunder.

Another shortcoming of the prior art machines is that critical portions of the can handling elements permit variation in the orientation of the can with respect to the measuring tube over which it is being placed to thereby cause jamming of the cans at the inlet station of the machine during the telescoping operation.

Moreover, the prior art machines restrict the range of variation in densities of product which can be successfully handled thereby Without placing the fill weight outof-limits. This restriction is due to the use of volumetric measurement without provision of any means of adjustment to compensate for periodic fluctuations in density.

3 It should be realized that this problem is of great importance in view of the expense and care involved in preparing product within a narrow density range.

It is an object of this. invention to obviate the above shortcomings.

It is another object of this invention to provide a filling apparatus of high speed capability for comminuted materials and which permits great freedom of design and substantial latitude in the size and configuration of the containers which can be filled therewith, is insensitive to imperfections in the interior surfaces of containers, is capable of better fill weight and outage control without the need of maintaining severe product density controls, facilitates container handling and operates in a manner which substantially reduces container dusting.

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a machine including an enclosed rotating powder containing chamber with a peripherally apertured plate. A filling station is associated with each aperture and includes a sealing surface and a depending outage regulatory element which has a length shorter than the internal height of the container and which has a passageway therethrough in communication with the chamber during the filling portion of the cycle. The outrage regulatory element is surrounded by the sealing surface and is adapted to leave a predetermined amount of outage in the container following filling. A pusherguide member is provided to maintain said container in axial alignment with the filling station. The machine also includes means to raise the container so as to telescope over the outage regulatory element and seal the mouth thereof against the sealing surface during the filling cycle. Further means is provided to remove the containers following the filling cycle.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating one preferred embodiment of a filling station of this invention having a container telescoped thereover in filling position;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which the filling station of FIG- URE 1 is afiixed in an aperture of the product chamber base or filling plate;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 and depicting the configuration and arrangement of the product chamber baflles;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 and illustrating a vibratory means used in connection with this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modification of the outage regulatory element of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the device of FIGURE 5.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the apparatus of the present invention is adapted to be used in connection with a circular turret or tub 10 of conventional construction mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. The principal portions of the tub shown are the filler plate 11, product chamber sidewall 12 and skirt 13.

The filler plate 11 is circular and of substantial thickness since it is the principal means for vertically supporting the tub l0 and the product P contained in the product chamber 14. Bolted to the center of the'bottom surface of filler plate 11 is a flange 11' attached to the upper end of the tub drive shaft (not shown). The drive shaft maintains the plate 11 at the proper elevation and imparts rotational movement to the plate 11 and the balance of the tub 10 components. A plurality of apertures 11a are spaced uniformly about the peripheral area of the plate 11 to accept the filling station components to be described. The center lines of the apertures 11a are commonly located along a circle, the center of which corresponds with the axis of rotation of the plate 11.%

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 2, the lower end of aperture 11a is counterbored, thereby forming an annular shoulder 11b.

The cylindrical product chamber sidewall 12 is at-.

tached along the side edge of the tub plate 11, as shown in FIGURE 1, by means of machine screws or the like..

The sidewall 12 projects vertically upwardly and serves to prevent the product P from spilling radially outwardly from the plate 11 as the tub 10 rotates.

Skirt 13 is aflixed to and depends from the circular,

dust seal to prevent dirt from entering the enclosure formed by the tub 10 and the underlying machine base to prevent damage to the drive parts contained therein.

A stationary enclosure 16 is mounted over the product chamber 14 of the rotatable tub 10 and comprises a circular top wall 17 and a cylindrical sidewall 18. Along the lower portion of the outside surface of the cylindrical sidewall 18, a circular angle iron support 19 is provided for imparting rigidity thereto. The support 19 is attached to the sidewall 18 and to a number of standards (not shown) aifixed to the machine base to thereby maintain said stationary enclosure 16 in position over said product chamber 14 as the tub 10 is rotating in service.

The top wall 17 of the enclosure 16 is equipped with a number of depending adjustable hangers, not shown,

adapted to support product deflecting bafiles B through B The baflles are suspended above the top surface. of the plate 11 and due to their securement to the enclosure 16, these remain stationary during machine operation. Referring to FIGURE 3, the arrangement of the apertures 11a in the filler plate 11 and the location and arrangement of the baffles B through B are shown. The product P is fed to the inlet I in the central area of the plate 11 by means of a screw feeding mechanism and suitable cut-off controls. As the filler plate 11 revolves in a clockwise direction it carries the product P along the path indicated by P arrows, the substantially spirally configured stationary baflle B defleeting the relatively moving product progressively outwardly. During the initial phase of product outfeed, it passes beneath a baflle B which is transverse the path of product movement. The cross baflle B strikes off the product P at a particular height and distributes it evenly across the passageway formed by adjacent legs of the At the outermost end of the baflle B the product P feeding from the inlet I merges with recycle product RP being guided along the outside of baflle B as shown by the RP arrows, the composite mass (hereinafter generally referred to as product) proceeding as indicated by the P|RP arrows to the container filling area (as denoted in FIGURE 3) of the baffle arrangement. Within this area and, consequently, during a fixed portion of each revolution of the tub 10 (the container filling period), the filling station passageways W to be described are in open communication with the product within the product chamber 14. As the product enters the filling area, arcuately shaped baffle B moves the mass gradually toward the filling stations associated with the apertures 11a of the filler plate, causing the product to feed through the passageway in communication with product during the container filling period. Arcuate bafile B overlies the filling station passageways W as they rotate under the major portion of the filling area, blocking most of the product from falling into the outermost side of the passageways W. This leaves a small, substantially segment-shaped area A of each passageway W open during the container filling period for the escape of air from the container. As shown, bafile B terminates short of the finish of said container filling area to assure that area A becomes filled with product. Each of the baflles B B and B are closely adjacent, but not touching, the top surface of plate 11 as the tub is rotated. Bafile B is adjustably mounted at a sufiicient height above the top surface of plate 11 whereby to control the feed of the product from the inlet I in the manner described.

Bafile B is arcuately shaped in the central portion thereof and adapted to be concentrically located over the plate 11 inwardly of the apertures 11a. At each end, the baflle B is provided with a straight leg which extends close to the interior surface of the product chamber sidewall 12. A strip 20 of brake lining material is fastened to the bottom edge of baflle B along its entire length and has a vertical chisel shaped portion 20' at the end of the leg of the battle adjacent the product chamber sidewall 12 near the indicated finish of the container filling area. The baffle B and strip 20 are adjusted to cause the strip to skim the top surface of the filler plate 11 and the portion 20 to skim the interior surface of sidewall 12 as the tub rotates. Thus, the strip 20 and portion 20' thereof at the finish end of the container filling area strikes-off the product at the top of the filling station passageway and deflects excess product, constituting recycle product, along a path intermediate bafiles B and B as shown by the RP arrows. The balance of the strip 20 along the arcuate central portion of bafile B and the leg thereof at the start end of the filling area prevent product from feeding to the peripheral area of the plate 11 enclosed by the baffle B The vertical end of the leg at the start end of the baffle B is purposely not engaged with the sidewall 12 in order to permit product which may not have been struck-off properly to escape into the container filling area.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, a preferred embodiment of a filling station or filling means is illustrated. An adaptor ring 21 is telescoped upwardly within the aperture 11a, with the outer annular shoulder 22 thereof seating on the shoulder 11b of the aperture sidewall and the top surface 23 coplanar with the upper surface of plate 11. The ring 21 has a central bore 24 which is recessed at 25, forming a downwardly facing, inwardly extending shoulder 26. The bore 24 forms the upper portion of the passageway W. A frusto-conical surface 27 extends downwardly and outwardly from the recess 25 to the lower surface 28 of the ring.

The depending outage regulatory means or element 29 has a body which comprises an imperforate tubular sleeve having a length substantially shorter than the internal height of the containers to be filled. The lower end of the tubular sleeve has a beveled exterior for facilitating entry into a container presented to the filling station. At the top of the sleeve is an outwardly projecting flange 30 adapted to slide into recess 25 of ring 21 and seat against shoulder 26. The central bore through the element 29 is the lower portion of the passageway W through which product passes during the container filling period. Preferably the diameter of this bore is the same as that of bore 24 of the adaptor ring 21. The function of the element 29 will be made clear by later description but it may be generally described as a means for directing product into the container and for leaving a predetermined volume of said container unfilled by product during the above-mentioned filling period. The unfilled volume is required in order to permit the container to later accept product contained within the passageway W above the level of the container mouth and to regulate the free space (outage) desired in the container subsequent to filling.

Telescoped over the sleeve of element 29 and contacting the lower surface of flange 30 in recess 25 is an annular resilient ring 31 made, preferably, of an elastomeric material. The lower surface of ring 31 encircles the body of the outage regulatory element and is adapted to seal the mouth of a container pressed thereagainst.

Support member 32 provides the means of retention of the adaptor ring 21, outage regulatory element 29 and the resilient ring 31 in axial alignment within the aperture 11a. The support member 32 has a cylindrical body to which is integrally connected a pair of oppositely disposed outwardly extending ears 33 by means of which the member can be attached to and drawn toward the plate 11 by bolts, clamps or the like. An upwardly and inwardly extending frusto-conically shaped leg 34 projects from the interior of the support member 32 and is of sufiicient length to first contact the peripheral area of the sealing ring 31 and exert upward pressure thereon as the member 32 is drawn toward the plate 11. Intermediate the leg 34 and the body of the member 32 is a circular groove 35 having a vertical sidewall 36 sized for sliding engagement on the cylindrical portion of the sidewall of adaptor ring 21 which protrudes below the plate 11. In fastening the support member 32, it is pulled upwardly by the ears 33 toward the plate 11 until the lower surface 28 of the ring bottoms within the circular groove.

A pusher-guide 37 constructed of a tube having an outside diameter which permits it to be telescoped with in the body of support member 32, provides the means to place a container in axial alignment with the balance of the filling station and to axially guide the container as it is raised and telescoped over the outage regulatory element 29. The lower portion of the pusher-guide 37 is stabilized by afiixment to the skirt 13 and has the outer half thereof cut away to leave that portion of the pusherguide 37 substantially semi-circular in shape in order to provide clearance for the can support rail 38. This is required since the rail 38 is adjustable to various heights for different length containers and includes a downwardly inclined section at the machine outlet. A notch 37 is cut in the outwardly extending edges of the lower portion of the pusher-guide 37. The purpose of the notch is to permit a stationary curved guide to project inwardly of the said edges at the outlet station of the machine to lead the filled and lowered containers out of the embracing walls of the pusher-guide and into the outlet starwheel. At the top of the pusher-guide 37, above the maximum adjustment of rail 38 height, the cylindrical walls are gradually brought into the full tubular shape which projects into the support member 32.

Due to the location of each of the above-mentioned filling station components with respect to a common po-' sition, i.e., the aperture 11a in the plate 11, each is coaxial with the aperture 11a and, hence, concentric with each other. This relationship is of substantial importance, especially in connection with the filling of containers having a structure or configuration which imposes close tolerances to be maintained while the container is being moved upwardly at the filling station.

The machine is provided with side guide rails, inlet and outlet starwheels and with a can raising conveyor (none of which are shown) such as those described in US. Patent 2,849,033 which issued to I. R. Nalbach on August 26, 1958. The descriptive matter in the abovementioned patent relating to the construction, operation and function of each of these elements is hereby incorporated by reference.

The support rail 38 extends from the top end of the can raising conveyor and extends partially around the machine while maintained at a fixed distance from the rotating tub 10. The portion of the rail 38 alongside the container filling area denoted in FIGURE 3 is horizontal,

thus holding the cans in their raised position. The rail then dips downwardly to a post-filling elevation about /2" lower than that along the container filling area and from that point continues to be horizontal for approximately 60 beyond the finish end of the container filling area. Next, the rail descends uniformly and terminates at the deadplate of the outlet starwheel, whereby to lower the container for removal.

Referring to FIGURE 4, the machine is equipped with a first vibratory means to initially compact the product within the cans during a portion of the time in which the cans are in communication with the container filling area. While the portion of the cycle during which the initial compaction of product may take place can vary in accordance with the product density variation expected, it has been found satisfactory to impart vibrational energy to the can over approximately 60 of angular movement of the tub. Preferably the vibration should occur at a point in the container filling area wherein container filling is substantially complete in order to derive the maximum benefits therefrom. The figure shows a vibration support rail 39 outboard of the rail 38 and which is supported at a plurality of points by legs attached to an adjustable bracket 40 affixed to the upper end of a crosshead 41. The crosshead 41 is mounted for vertical reciprocation within the housing 42 aflixed to one end of a DC. series wound motor 43. Although not shown, it will be understood that an eccentric pin is affixed to a flange on the enclosed end of the motor shaft and a connecting rod links the pin to the lower end of the crosshead. By this means the rotary drive imparted to the pin is converted to reciprocating motion. By varying the input voltage of the motor by controls well known in the art, the frequency of reciprocation and thus of vibration can be controlled.

By selectively controlling the frequency of vibration which is imparted to the cans as they slide over the vibration support rail 39, the product or material contained within the can may be sufliciently compacted to assure that a predetermined weight of product is contained therein prior to strike-off at the finish end of the container filling area. Adjustments to vibration frequency are made while the machine is in operation, based on periodic fill-weight measurements of containers packed out and in accordance with statistical quality controls. Naturally, the degree of initial compaction required (and therefore the frequency of vibration) will be inversely proportional to the apparent density of the comminuted material within the product chamber 14. By apparent density is meant the density of the product within the chamber 14 as determined by the fill-weight measurements of product within containers being discharged from the machine. Stated otherwise, if too much product is being placed in the containers being discharged, the

frequency of vibration should be reduced;.if too little product is being placed in such containers, the frequency should be increased. The extent of change in frequency which should be made for specific variations from the desired filling Weight will vary with the product and may be determined by simple experimentation.

Other means of imparting vibratory energy to the cans could be used and, in addition, it is possible to vary amplitude as well as frequency in such devices. Since alternative sources and control of such vibratory means are well known in the art it is not necessary for the purpose of this disclosure to describe such alternatives.

Immediately following the filling period, while the support rail 38 maintains the containers at the post-filling elevation wherein the can mouth becomes separatedfrom the sealing surface by about /2", the cans are subjected to a second vibratory action by means of a vibratory support rail and apparatus generally identical with that comprising the first vibratory means and therefore not specifically described or shown in the drawings. The second vibratory action finally compacts the initially compacted product (that which is presently in the container) and the product in the passageway W thereabove to a level of fill located entirely within the confines of the container prior to the lowering of the can on the downwardly descending section of support rail 38 leading to the outlet starwheel. If desired, the vibration may continue as the can commences its descent.

If the apparent density of the product may be maintained constant without undue problems, the use of the first vibratory action could be dispensed with. However, whether or not the first vibratory action is used, it is still desirable to use the second vibratory action to prevent dusting and spillage problems as the cans are lowered and removed from the machine.

From the foregoing it will be understood that as the tub 10 rotates, empty cans are brought into registry with.

the depending semi-circular surface of pusher-guide 37 by a starwheel. The pusher-guide 37, which is rotating with the tub 10, engages the can and moves it onto a can raising conveyor which lifts the can vertically. During the lifting operation the can is controlled by the side guide rails and the funneling action of the pusher-guide 37 until the mouth of the can telescopes over the outage regulatory element 29 and makes sealing contact with the sealing surface of the resilient ring 31. At this time the container slides on the leading end of the stationary support rail 38 and the passageway through the interior of the adaptor ring 21 and the outage regulatory element 29 is in communication with the product containing chamber 14. Product pours into the container as the cycle continues, filling the passageway and all portions of the container except that maintained free of product by the outage regulatory element 29, as will be explained. While the passageway is still in communication with the product in the product chamber, the container is subjected to a first vibratory action in order to cause a desired degree,

tainer is then lowered by support rail 38 to the deadplate level of the outlet starwheel which removes the can for subsequent processing. During the container lowering movement any product still housed within the passageway drops into the container. The filling station then rotates to the inlet starwheel to pick up the next can.

With respect to the outage regulatory element 29 shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, as the filling commences, the level of the product flowing into the container rises to the end of the sleeve. annular void V, which is intermediate the sleeve and the interior surfaces of the container above the level of the end of the sleeve, is trapped and (although slightly compressed) prevents the product from rising to any substantial extent therein. sleeve, as will be understood, any desired predetermined volume of void can be left in the container during the filling period in order to permit the container to accept From that point on, the air within the By properly dimensioning the supported in the filling station in the same manner as the flange 30 of element 29. Since the body 44 has to be withdrawn from the product in the container following filling, it has been found necessary to taper the upper surface 48 of the body 44 upwardly and inwardly at an angle with the horizontal which preferably exceeds the angle of repose of the product in order to minimize spilling of product. If the required outage changes, it is merely necessary to use a different size of body 44.

The outage regulatory element of FIGURES and 6 may be used in the same way as element 29 of FIGURES 1 and 2. However, the desired volume of the container interior which is unfilled by product is controlled by displacement by means of the material comprising the element rather than by trapping air. The balance of apparatus described previously may also be the same with one exception: the support rail 38 does not dip downwardly to the horizontal post-filling elevation. Consequently, the post-filling elevation is the same as the filling elevation. If it would be desirable to avoid making a change in the rail 38, the spider 46 could be enclosed by a shallow annular wall 46' (shown in phantom in FIG- URE 5) to prevent spilling of product outwardly as the container moves along the clip. 4

Although not stated previously, it will be understood that the elements comprising the filling station will be sized to accept the style and size of container to be filled by the machine. Thus, the internal diameter of the tube from which pusher-guide 37 is constructed should be slightly larger (preferably about & than the largest nominal external dimension of the container and the body of the outage regulatory element 29 (or the body 44 of the regulatory element of FIGURES 5 and 6) should be smaller (preferably at least about 1 than the internal diameter of the mouth of the container to facilitate the telescoping action described. In addition, the exposed sealing surface of the sealing ring 31 preferably has an outside diameter larger than, and an inside diameter smaller than, the corresponding dimensions of the container mouth. If the maximum external dimension of a container and the size of its mouth are retained, and if the outage requirement is maintained constant, the same filling station may be used in connection with such containers of any particular length within the limits of vertical adjustability of the machine. In many cases, the diameter of the regulatory element is sufficiently small and the exposed sealing surface sufiiciently wide to also permit a considerable variation in the size of the container mouth.

With respect to the product strike-off at the end of the filling period, it is possible to .have the leg (or a portion thereof) at the finish end of bafile B raised to allow a column of product of predetermined width and height to remain over the filling stations as the can reaches the post-filling elevation. Due to the secondary vibration some of the product in the column falls into the container and that which does not overlie the passageway W may be funneled thereinto by a V-shaped scraper 49 (shown dotted in FIGURE 3), the apex of which is aligned with the locus of the apertures 11a center lines. By this means the range of filling control can be extended.

Many modifications of the above invention may be used and it is not intended to hereby limit it to the particular embodiment shown or described. The terms used in describing the invention are used in their descriptive sense and not as terms of limitation, it being intended that all equivalents thereof be included within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. High speed rotary filling apparatus for placement of a predetermined weight .of a comminuted free-flowing material within open mouthed containers, said apparatus comprising in combination:

(A) an enclosed rotating chamber adapted to contain a substantially constant quantity of the said comminuted material, said chamber having a bottom plate on which said material is supported and which is provided with a plurality of apertures spaced uniformly about its peripheral area;

(B) a filling means associated with each of said apertures, said filling means including an annular sealing surface, a depending outage regulatory element the body of which is encircled by said sealing surface and adapted to project into a container presented to said station, said element containing a passageway in open communication with the product in said chamber during only a fixed portion of each revolution of said chamber, which portion constitutes the container filling period of the machine cycle, said body of said element being of a length substantially shorter than the internal height of said container and adapted to leave a predetermined volume of said container unfilled by said material during the said container filling period, and a pusher-guide member to maintain said container in axial alignment with the filling means, said aperture, sealing surface, outage regulatory element and pusher-guide member being coaxial;

(C) means to raise said container to place and maintain the open mouth thereof in sealing contact with said sealing surface during said container filling period whereby to telescope the body of said outage regulatory element within said container; and

(D) means to lower and remove each of said containers from said apparatus following said container filling period.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said outage regulatory element comprises a body of predetermined volume suspended by means of a section thereof having a diameter smaller than that of a lower portion of said body, the surface of said body extending from said lower portion being tapered upwardly and inwardly towardsaid section at an angle with the horizontal which exceeds the angle of repose of said material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said outage regulatory element comprises an imperforate sleeve and in which said predetermined unfilled volume of said container is maintained by trapping air between the outer surface of said sleeve and the interior surfaces of said container above the level of the end of the sleeve.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the said pusherguide member is constructed of tubular material, the lower portion of which is cut away to a substantially semi-circular configuration, and in which said pusher-guide, sealing surface and outage regulatory element are each supported by means directly aligned with said aperture whereby a common position is used in locating each of the elements comprising the filling means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which a vibratory means is provided to act on each container subsequent to said filling period, to compact the material in the container and the material in said passageway thereabove to a level of fill located entirely within the confines of the container.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which a first vibratory means is provided to act on each said container to initially compact said material while said container mouth is in sealing contact with said sealing surface and said material flows into said container, said first vibratory means including controls to selectively vary the vibrational energy to be transmitted to said container to effect a predetermined degree of initial compaction which is inversely proportional to the apparent density of the comminuted material within said chamber and lower than the degree of final compaction ultimately required for packaging said material within said container, and which is provided with a second vibratory means to finally compact the initially compacted material contained in the container and the material in said passageway thereabove, whereby the level of fill thereof is located entirely within the confines of said container.

1 l 7. High speed rotary filling apparatus for placement of a predetermined weight of a comminuted free-flowing ma terial within containers, said apparatus comprising in combination:

(A) a filling chamber adapted to contain a substantially constant quantity of the said comminuted material;

(B) means to place the container beneath said chamber and additional means to substantially seal the interior of said container against leakage around the filling opening thereof;

(C) an outage regulatory element comprising a body adapted to project into said container and to leave a predetermined volume of said container unfilled by said material during the filling operation, said regulatory element containing a passageway placing said container in communication with said chamber during said filling operation to thereby permit material to flow into said container;

(D) a first vibratory means adapted to act on said container to initially compact said material while said container remains in communication with the product in said chamber, said first vibratory means including controls to selectively vary the vibrational energy to be transmitted to said container to effect a predetermined degree of initial compaction which is inversely proportional to the apparent density of the comminuted material within said chamber and lower than the degree of final compaction ultimately required for packaging said materialwithin said container;

(E) a strike-off means adapted to effect a separation of the material to be packaged within the container from the excess material within said chamber, such strikeotf means being located to act above the top of said container, whereby only a predetermined volume of said material remains in communication with said passageway following said separation; and

(F) a second vibratory means to finally compact the material, whereby the level of fill thereof is located entirely within the confines of said container.

8. A filling station for securement within an aperture in the filler plate of a machine adapted to place a predetermined weight of a comminuted free-flowing material within a container, said filling station comprising in coaxial relationship: an adaptor ring seated Within said aperture and provided with a downwardly facing inwardly extending shoulder, a depending outage regulatory means having an outwardly projecting flange at the top thereof underlying and in contact with said inwardly extending shoulder, said regulatory means being adapted to leave a predetermined volume of void within said container following the placement of product in the container, an annnular resilient sealing ring telescoped over said regulatory means, said sealing ring contacting the lower surface of said outwardly projecting flange, a support member affixed to the lower surface of said plate and surrounding said adaptor ring, regulatorymeans and sealing ring, said support member having a leg exerting pressure on the peripheral area of said sealing ring to thereby clamp said sealing ring and said outwardly projecting flange tightly against said inwardly extending shoulder, said support member having a substantially tubularly shaped pusherguide depending therefrom, the internal dimensions of said i pusher-guide being slightly in excess of the external maximum dimension of said container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,708,054 5/1955 Rose et al 141-392 X References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,342,735 2/ 1944 Hellmann. 2,651,087 9/1953 Fellows, 2,849,033 8/1958 Nalbach.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. S. BELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. HIGH SPEED ROTARY FILLING APPARATUS FOR PLACEMENT OF A PREDETERMINED WEIGHT OF A COMMINUTED FREE-FLOWING MATERIAL WITHIN OPEN MOUTHED CONTAINERS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) AN ENCLOSED ROTATING CHAMBER ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT QUANTITY OF THE SAID COMMINUTED MATERIAL, SAID CHAMBER HAVING A BOTTOM PLATE ON WHICH SAID MATERIAL IS SUPPORTED AND WHICH IS PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF APERTURES SPACED UNIFORMLY ABOUT ITS PERIPHERAL AREA; (B) A FILLING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH WACH OF SAID APERTURES, SAID FILLING MEANS INCLUDING AN ANNULAR SEALING SURFACE, A DEPENDING OUTAGE REGULATORY ELEMENT THE BODY OF WHICH IS ENCIRCLED BY SAID SEALING SURFACE AND ADAPTED TO PROJECT INTO A CONTAINER A PRESENTED TO SAID STATION, SAID ELEMENT CONTAINING A PASSAGEWAY IN OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH THE PRODUCT IN SAID CHAMBER DURING ONLY A FIXED PORTION OF EACH REVOLUTION OF SAID CHAMBER, WHICH PORTION CONSTITUTES THE CONTAINER FILLING PERIOD OF THE MACHINE CYCLE, SAID BODY OF SAID ELEMENT BEING OF A LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY SHORTER THAN THE INTERNAL HEIGHT OF SAID CONTAINER AND ADAPTED TO LEAVE A PREDETERMINED VOLUME OF SAID CONTAINER UNFILLED BY SAID MATERIAL DURING THE SAID CONTAINER FILLING PERIOD, AND A PUSHER-GUIDE MEMBER TO MAINTAIN SAID CONTAINER IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE FILLING MEANS, SAID APERTURE, SEALING SURFACE, OUTAGE REGULATORY ELEMENT AND PUSHER-GUIDE MEMBER BEING COAXIAL; (C) MEANS TO RAISE SAID CONTAINER TO PLACE AND MAINTAIN THE OPEN MOUTH THEREOF IN SEALING CONTACT WITH SAID SEALING SURFACE DURING SAID CONTAINER FILLING PERIOD WHEREBY TO TELESCOPE THE BODY OF SAID OUTAGE REGULATORY ELEMENT WITHIN SAID CONTAINER; AND (D) MEANS TO LOWER AND REMOVE EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS FROM SAID APPARATUS FOLLOWING SAID CONTAINER FILLING PERIOD. 